You Really ARE What You Eat! :)

So many people struggle with the food part of their journey. Men and women want six pack abs, and though they work out faithfully, they just dont see them without proper lighting. ;) I get so many questions like that, I thought I'd post what a daily menu plan might look like for me. (yesterday's menu)

BREAKFAST

Eggwhite omelet with lots of veggies (see photo above)

water

black coffee

SUPPLEMENTS *see below*

SNACK

Beachbody Peanut Butter Protein Bar

water with lemon and ice

LUNCH

leftover dinner (last night it was a serving of chicken and loaded with veggies, seasoned)

Whole grain rice made in organic chicken broth
water with lemon and ice

SNACK

low fat cottage cheese with frozen blueberries

DINNER

Beachbody Protein Shake

made with fat free milk, banana, some chunks of frozen mango, ice - blended in blender

I try to have veggies twice a day with my meals, and try to sub in a SHAKE for a meal every other day or so. They feel like a frozen treat - like a milkshake for dinner! :) And....I like to replace dinner with the shake because for lunch I need more food to help me have the energy to make it through the day. Thats just me, and everyone is different!

People also ask which supplements do I take:

P90X Peak Health Multi Vitamin

Cal-Mag

Omega 3

Joint Support

Vanilla Whey Protein Powder

P90X Protein Bars - my favs: blueberry and peanut butter. Kc loves Mocha. (That sounds about right for how we do things.....exact opposite, all the way across the board! ;))

I take these FAITHFULLY.

Yes, it is A LOT of pills to swallow, but I notice a BIG change on the days I forget - especially without my Peak Health. Energy DROP! :( If I am going to live an eXtremely busy and active life, I need to give myself all the advantages I can in the health and nutrition side of things. I had to really work to get to the point where I could take these supplements, because taking even ONE pill 'pre-Beachbody days' required me gearing up to gag it down. (and when I say gag, I was literally GAGGING: read: OVERLY DRAMATIC ;) I know - you're shocked that I'm dramatic ;)) But I'm proud of how far I've come. :) Its all about "MIND OVER MATTER"; if its good for you; no matter how uncomfortable: DO IT. :) Its called self discipline, and if I can do it - you can too! :) (course, I also pray for God to give me strength, and I dont believe that plays a small part in living a disciplined life, so I advise trying that too! ;))

I just started a new supplement that I am still waiting to see what the affects are, if any. If I end up giving it thumbs up, I'll post it here for you to give a try. (Its not a Beachbody Supplement)

I hope this helps you. It just takes A PLAN. (another one of Tony's Laws!) :)

Change your THINKING, (about food and supplements) and you'll have a better chance of changing your BODY!

Go gettum - YOU CAN DO IT!!

xoxo
TRACI +7

Finding Your SPORT :)

After my last blog, I thought it was worth mentioning a close friend who is choosing to plug his fitness into something both fun and exciting! :)

I heard from only 3 people after my last post, and thought I'd give them a public nod for doing so and for furthering their commitment, or recommitting to their health. :) Kathy, my sweet online friend was inspired to pick up her fitness again after some time off due to family and just LIFE. YAY Kathy!! :) Lori is playing gymnastics in the yard with her kids and working on her backovers! :) LOVE IT! Kelly is taking an adult tap class! :) How cool. I didnt know they HAD such a thing?! I'm so glad they do!

So yesterday I had a "play date" with my friend Scott Fifer. :) Both of our hearts were called to help Africa in the same year - his to open a NPO for orphans in Tanzania (see his blog on the side bar entitled TunaHAKI), and mine to adopt my boys from Ethiopia! His photos were the ones that God used to stir my heart to consider adoption back in February of 06! There we were - in some nice little outdoor restaurant and I'm having my 'burning bush' moment. :) I just love Scott, and think his heart is of the purest intention! :)

Back to the play date. :) Brad, Joey and I headed in to the Santa Monica Pier to see him in his trapeze class. I had NO IDEA this even existed until he started up back in May, so to go and see him and a couple other great ladies we know do this was a BLAST! The boys were loving watching him fly through the air with the greatest of ease ;), and I was too. Then we headed over after class to play in the sand. :) Well, the boys were digging while we talked. It was blue skies, slight breeze and warm sun - a GREAT day to sit and talk with a friend. :)

But the point is: he took a chance and tried something completely out of the norm for the typical adult thinking of what it is to be an adult, and I LOVE that! :) So, enjoy his photos, and may it inspire to you have a PLAY TIME of your own! :)

Scott, chalking up before heading up the ladder

The boys, eagerly anticipating his jump!

Waving to his 'fans', who were in awe :) (me included)
VERY COOL!

Scott and the Boys! :)

xoxo
TRACI +7

Plugging Your Fitness into SPORT

One of the topics Tony speaks about in his 11 Laws of Health and Fitness is the law of SPORT. :) This is one of my favorite Laws, because its SO REAL and applicable.

When I was a kid, I played soccer, took gymnastics lessons, tried 8th grade basketball (I played center..... :) KIDDING), ran track, and was a cheerleader. (Please dont hold the latter against me :)) As a people person even back then, playing sports was about connecting with other people while we played. :)

Why is it when we step to adulthood, we lose that spirit? I dont ever want to stop "playing"; running, laughing, high fiving, cheering one another on, feeling ALIVE! :) It gets the endorphins pumping, and keeps my mind light and cheerful. Who wouldnt want to keep that part of life active? But the reality is, we lose it. We get married (or not), get immersed into our careers, get busy paying the bills and taking care of our house, coaching our kids' teams, etc. etc. The list goes on. We've somewhere along the line resigned ourselves to "Thats the way it is". I challenge you to think outside the box. When I was a kid, my dad was a runner and my mom jogged, or did a tv workout with Jack La Lanne or whoever was leading the television aerobics class, or worked out using this funny contraption that fit around the handle of a closed door. That's what was available and she did what it took to stay fit and healthy. Today, there are so many fun adult activities to get involved with: adult soccer, softball, bowling, dodgeball, rock wall climbing, adult tennis teams, all sorts of dancing classes, ...... There are so many places to plug your love of sport in to - its just a matter of choosing which one first. :)

Unfortunately, thats not what happens. Sadly, its still such a new thought that most adults dont even realize that its FOR THEM (read: FOR YOU!) to try. They tend to think its for those other people. The cool thing about Beachbody Programs is that it gets your body moving, flexible, agile, fit, shed of the unwanted pounds that crept on there, and ready to PLAY. :) The hard part is stepping out of old patterns and habits and starting something new.

Life is too short (wasnt that the theme of a post last month?) to not HAVE FUN! :) If there's something you've always wanted to try or play, or pick back up again - why not look into it today? We are a country who watches shows like American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance, and Top Model, and Survivor and see these people living their dreams and trying new things. Why not go after your own? :) And grab a friend and ask them to join you!! (everything's more fun with a friend!)

Your "action step" after reading this blog is to leave me a comment. :) Tell me (and anyone else reading this) what it is you're going to try or have wanted to try. Sometimes just saying it gives you the accountability to follow through.

Here's mine: I'm finally signing up to do my Marathon. I told myself when I was in my 20's that I was going to do the LA Marathon before I turned 40. Well, the clock is ticking. :) I will be 40 in May of 2010, so why wait till the last minute, as is typical with me? :) The last time I started to train I blew out my knee....so this time I'm going to train slower, giving myself lots more time to do it well. Or at least finish. lol

WHATS YOURS? :)

Interesting Thinking Point: Chemotherapy and Vitamin C

If you have a loved one who is undergoing chemotherapy, I have an article that I think is worth putting out there for people who read this. I'm not saying necessarily that I agree with it, but I think when making the decision for chemo or not - one should have all the input possible. So I share it not to endorse it, but to put information into your hands for consideration. It was sent to me by another coach on my team who is a nurse and her husband (also a coach) is a doctor. I've attached all the references of the article and contact info to the author at the bottom.

Its worth a read.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, October 7, 2008

Chemotherapy Doesn't Work, So Blame Vitamin C

(OMNS, October 7, 2008) When Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center announces that vitamin C may interfere with chemotherapy, the news media trumpet it far and wide. But before cancer patients throw away their vitamin C supplements, they need to know rest of the story.
Most of the media dutifully reported the researchers' claim that the equivalent of 2,000 mg of vitamin C "blunted the effectiveness of the chemotherapy drugs." But only some of the media included a study author's incredible statement that "If you take an oral dose even as low as 100 milligrams a day" even "that could be harmful" during chemotherapy (1)
100 mg "could be harmful"? That's the amount of vitamin C in a few glasses of orange juice. Something is very wrong here.

First of all, this research involved mice with implanted cancerous tumors; it was not a trial on cancer patients. A mouse study is a long way from a human clinical trial. This obvious difference was conceded by the study authors. However, there is a more subtle, and probably much more important factor they did not consider: all mice make their own vitamin C. Indeed, mice make quite a lot. Adjusted for body weight, mice synthesize the human body weight equivalent of approximately 10,000 milligrams of vitamin C each day. (2) Incredibly, sick mice make even more. Mice given transplanted tumors become sick mice.

Secondly, previous research has demonstrated that mice with cancer respond well to high-dose vitamin C therapy. One study found, "With an increase in the amount of ascorbic acid there is a highly significant decrease in the first-order rate constant for appearance of the first spontaneous mammary tumor. . . Striking differences were observed between the 0.076% ascorbic acid and the control groups, which synthesize the vitamin." (3) Another study concluded that: "A pronounced effect of vitamin C in decreasing the incidence and delaying the onset of malignant lesions was observed with high statistical significance. By 20 weeks, approximately five times as many mice had developed serious lesions in the zero-ascorbate as in the high-ascorbate group." (4) Interestingly enough, when this research was first publicized, the media discounted these findings saying that mouse studies were not particularly applicable to people.
Thirdly, a mouse's ability to make vitamin C, and a great deal of it, is an overlooked confounding factor that may well render the entire experiment invalid. If the Sloan-Kettering team had tried their experiment on Guinea pigs, their results might have been very different. Guinea pigs are more like human beings in that they cannot make their own vitamin C. As controls for comparison, the researchers also treated "no-added-vitamin C" mouse cancers with chemotherapy. Chemo worked just fine on those mice, by the researchers own admission. And each of those mice was internally synthesizing a body weight equivalent of 10,000 mg/day of vitamin C, even though given none supplementally.
So how come 10,000 mg of vitamin C does not interfere with chemo treatment, and 2,000 mg - or even 100 mg - supposedly does?

A sweeping recommendation warning cancer patients to not take supplemental vitamin C, not even 100 mg, is irresponsible. It is impossible to justify caution about taking 100 mg of vitamin C daily when your animal subjects made the equivalent of one hundred times that amount, and chemotherapy in them was still reported as effective. You cannot have it both ways. If a synthesized 10,000 mg of C does not interfere, there can be no real "interference" or "blunting" from a supplemental 2,000 mg. And most certainly not from 100 mg.

The study did report tumor shrinkage, in both groups of mice receiving chemo. That is not surprising. Chemotherapy's claimed success is based on tumor shrinkage. But tumor shrinkage, encouraging though it is, is not a reliable indicator of long-term cancer survival. As cancer research critic Philip Day puts it, many patients are "cured but dead" after five years, hardly a long-term survival. Day, noting that this is not because oncologists are not trying, explains the chemotherapy quandary: "You can be insincere, or you can be sincerely wrong." (5)
The Sloan-Kettering study team seems to have missed the essential point that vitamin C is not just an antioxidant. Inside cancer tumors, it also acts as a prooxidant, killing malignant cells. Comments Dr. Steve Hickey, of Manchester, UK: "Essentially, the paper seems to be rather misguided and shows a lack of understanding of the dual nature of vitamin C in tumors. Chemotherapy has been shown by over 40 years of clinical trials not to work in the majority of tumors, and its use is counterproductive."

Chemotherapy drugs have come and gone; the five year survival rate for cancer treated with chemo has remained virtually unchanged for decades. Unfortunately, just over 2% of all cancers respond to chemotherapy. Specifically, one scientific review concluded, "The overall contribution of curative and adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adults was estimated to be 2.3% in Australia and 2.1% in the USA . . . chemotherapy only makes a minor contribution to cancer survival. To justify the continued funding and availability of drugs used in cytotoxic chemotherapy, a rigorous evaluation of the cost-effectiveness and impact on quality of life is urgently required." (6)

Perhaps this new, very well-publicized study results from an ever-growing realization that chemotherapy is largely ineffective, and the search is on for the reason why. Vitamin C should not be made the scapegoat.

Vitamin C, in doses well over 100 mg/day, is known to help prevent cancer. (7) Nearly 30 years ago, a review concluded that "Many factors involved in host resistance to neoplasia are significantly dependent upon the availability of ascorbate." (8) Beginning in the 1970s, many well-designed studies show that very large doses of vitamin C improve both quality and length of life for cancer patients since they invariably are "significantly depleted of ascorbic acid." When given intravenous vitamin C, "The mean survival time is more than 4.2 times as great for the ascorbate subjects . . . This simple and safe form of medication is of definite value in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer." (9) Additional clinical trials have confirmed this over the past several decades. (10)

Even more importantly, recent research indicates that in high doses, vitamin C is selectively toxic to cancer cells. That means vitamin C can function very much like chemotherapy is supposed to, but without the severe side effects of chemotherapy. "A regimen of daily pharmacologic ascorbate treatment significantly decreased growth rates of ovarian, pancreatic, and glioblastoma tumors established in mice. Similar pharmacologic concentrations were readily achieved in humans given ascorbate intravenously." (11)

"Cautioning" the public to avoid taking any supplemental amount of vitamin C will decrease host resistance to cancer, increase the incidence of this dreaded disease, and shorten survival times. A cynic might say it will also create a larger market for chemotherapy.

Is vitamin C a commercial competitor for chemo? To answer this, one needs to consider what appears to be serious conflict of interest at Sloan-Kettering. Bristol-Myers-Squibb makes chemotherapeutic drugs. According to a DEF 14A SEC filing of March 22, 2006, the Chairman of the Board of Bristol-Myers-Squibb is also a director of the Coca-Cola Company, and Honorary Chairman of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

(http://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://sec.edgar-online.com/2006/03/22/0001193125-06-060566/Section8.asp). A previous Bristol-Myers-Squibb Chairman of the Board was a director of the New York Times Company. He was also Vice Chairman of the Board of Overseers and the Board of Managers of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Chairman of the Board of Managers of Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Resear ch. (http://www.o!%20rthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://www.secinfo.com/dsvrt.bC7.htm) Some sources say that there are even more Bristol-Myers-Squibb directors who have or held positions on the board at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. (12)
Positive endorsements for vitamin C as a cancer fighter are not in the interests of any pharmaceutical company. Scaring the public away from vitamin C might be profitable. It appears that Sloan-Kettering is biased. So are media reports that attack vitamins.
If the Sloan-Kettering study authors' recommendations to not take 2,000 mg, or even 100 mg, of vitamin C are followed, there will definitely be an increase in the number of people that need chemotherapy.
References:
(1) Doheny K. Vitamin C and chemotherapy: bad combo? Supplementing with vitamin C may reduce effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs, study shows. WebMD Health News. http://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20081001/vitamin-c-chemotherapy-bad-combo (2) Chatterjee IB, Majumder AK, Nandi BK, Subramanian N. Synthesis and some major functions of vitamin C in animals. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1975 Sep 30;258:24-47. (3) Pauling L, Nixon JC, Stitt F et al. Effect of dietary ascorbic acid on the incidence of spontaneous mammary tumors in RIII mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985 Aug;82(15):5185-9. (4) Paulin g L. Effect of ascorbic acid on incidence of spontaneous mammary tumors and UV-light-induced skin tumors in mice. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991 Dec;54(6 Suppl):1252S-1255S. Read the full paper free of charge athttp://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/54/6/1252S (5) Day P. in the documentary film Food Matters, http://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://www.foodmatters.tv See also: Day P. Cancer: why we're still dying to know the truth. Credence Publications, 1999. ISBN-10: 0953501248; SBN-13: 978-0953501243 (6) Morgan G, Ward R, Barton M. The contribution of cytotoxic chemother apy to 5-year survival in adult malignancies. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2004 Dec;16(8):549-60. (7) Enstrom JE, Kanim LE, Klein MA. Vitamin C intake and mortality among a sample of the United States population. Epidemiology. 1992 May;3(3):194-202. (8) Cameron E, Pauling L, Leibovitz B. Ascorbic acid and cancer: a review. Cancer Res. 1979 Mar;39(3):663-81. (9) Cameron E, Pauling L. Supplemental ascorbate in the supportive treatment of cancer: Prolongation of survival times in terminal human cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Oct;73(10):3685-9. Read the original paper athttp://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/MM/B/B/K/Z/_/mmbbkz.pdf <>(10) Murata A, Morishige F, and Yamaguchi H. Prolongation of survival times of terminal cancer patients by administration of large doses of ascorbate. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research Suppl., 23, 1982. p. 103-113. And: Null G, Robins H, Tanenbaum, M, and Jennings P. Vitamin C and the treatment of cancer: abstracts and commentary from the scientific literature. The Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, 1997. April/May. And: Vitamin C and cancer revisited. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug 12;105(32):11037-8. Also: Riordan HD, Riordan NH, Jackson JA et al. Intravenous vitamin C as a chemotherapy agent: a report on clinical cases. Puerto Rico Health Sciences J, June 2004, 23(2): 115-118. (11) Chen Q, Espey MG, Sun AY et al. Pharmacologic doses of ascorbate act as a prooxidant and decrease growth of aggressive tumor xenografts in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug 12;105(32):11105-9. See also: Ch en Q, Espey MG, Sun AY et al. Ascorbate in pharmacologic concentrations selectively generates ascorbate radical and hydrogen peroxide in extracellular fluid in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 May 22;104(21):8749-54. And: Chen Q, Espey MG, Krishna MC et al. Pharmacologic ascorbic acid concentrations selectively kill cancer cells: action as a pro-drug to deliver hydrogen peroxide to tissues. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Sep 20;102(38):13604-9. And: Padayatty et al. Intravenously administered vitamin C as cancer therapy: three cases. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2006. 174(7), March 28, p 937-942. http://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/174/7/937. Also: Riordan NH et al. Intravenous ascorbate as a tumor cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent. Medical Hypotheses, 1995. 44(3). p 207-213, March. (12) Moss R. Questioning Chemotherapy. Equinox Press, 1995. ISBN-10: 188102525X; ISBN-13: 978-1881025252. See also: The Cancer Industry. Equinox Press, 1996. ISBN-10: 1881025098; ISBN-13: 978-1881025092.
For more information: Cameron E. and Pauling L. Cancer and vitamin C, revised edition. Philadelphia: Camino Books, 1993. Hickey S and Roberts H. Cancer: nutrition and survival. Lulu Press, 2005. ISBN: 141166339X. Hoffer A. Healing cancer: complementary vitamin and drug treatments. Ontario: CCNM Press, 2004. ISBN-10: 1897025114; ISBN-13: 978-1897025116. For free access to an online archive of peer-reviewed, full-text nutrition therapy papers:http://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://www.orthomed.org/jom/jomlist.htm or http://www.orthomol%0d%0aecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom
Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine
Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information:http://www.orthomolecular.org/12all/lt/t_go.php?i=93&e=MjIyNDM=&l=http://www.orthomolecular.org
The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource.
Editorial Review Board:
Damien Downing, M.D. Harold D. Foster, Ph.D. Steve Hickey, Ph.D. Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D. James A. Jackson, PhD Bo H. Jonsson, MD, Ph.D Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D. Erik Paterson, M.D. Gert E. Shuitemaker, Ph.D.Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D., Editor and contact person. Email: omns@orthomolecular.org

First Stop: Philly, Then: Dallas, Lastly: TONY HORTON FITNESS CAMP in Colorado

Its been a crazy busy month! I have had a blast, hitting a few different pit stops around this country, talking to people who's lives have been changed by Team Beachbody and who are interested in helping others find that change for their lives as well. :)

Extra bonus: all three stops highlighted or were centered around Tony Horton, and its always fun when he shows up!

Our first stop: (no photos dang it) Philly for QVC to promote P90X. We were on air for an hour, and sold nearly 4,000 programs! :) We had a great host; Dan something or other ;) and though I cant remember his last name, he was lots of fun! The day we were LIVE was his 10th day of the X, so next month when we go back (they're having us on about once a month) there should be some fun change. I'll be sure to post when we go back next so you can tune in and get some motivation. Tony is great LIVE, and makes the viewer WANT to work out!

Next stop: Dallas; for the Team Beachbody Opportunity Meeting. :) Got to spend some time with old friends, and meet new! LOTS of newbies! :) I love to see and meet new Team Beachbody coaches and faithfuls! You can tell a recent grad of a Beachbody program - they're the ones with the giddy smiles that never fade, and who cant stop talking about how much they love to workout now, and how their pants are smaller, and how people dont recognize them now! :)

Final Stop: Parker, Colorado for our final Tony Horton Fitness Camp of the year. We had 45 campers. It was intimate and fun, with lots of information, mixed with hilarity passed on from Tony. :) I have a really great job, if you can even call it that. :) Tony and I have a blast at every camp; and with our new administrative partner, JuliAnne Forrest - they run smoothy-smooth! (Hortonism) Tony and I keep waiting for the day when we get to host our own health and fitness show; where he is witty and charming and informative, and I laugh at all his jokes. :) Would YOU tune in to that!?? :o)~ lol We may just end up being our only viewers. ;o) However it turns out; we are a really good fit for a team, which makes it all the more FUN. I jokingly call him my "work husband", cuz we sort of feel parental about our camp attendees. :)

My REAL husband is a *STAR*; he encourages me to go and participate in these things while he stays home with our 6 kids! Not only that, but of the two nights I was gone, my kids were treated to the following: Friday night date night with Dad: he took our three daughters out to sushi for a gab session. But lets be honest: we can be certain that he did VERY LITTLE of the gabbing, as our girls CAN TALK! :) (Hmmm.....I wonder where they get that from? ;)) Then Saturday night was Guys Night Out with Dad: he took our three sons to Speedway for motorcycle races and stunts. :) He said the little boys eyes were as wide as saucers when the trick bikes came out. :) What a guy, right? Its funny how that seems just as romantic to me as bringing me flowers or taking ME out. :) We make a good team, me and my REAL husband. :)

So here are a few photos for you. If you have ANY desire to come to a Tony camp; the website is http://www.thfitnesscamp.com/ Up to date info will be posted as we ink our '09 camps so you can pick the one you want to attend and then PLAN ON IT. :) We'd love to meet you!!! :)

Keep Bringin It! And ***don't forget*** to email me your questions for answering in my coaching tips! Include your address so I can send you a present for "playing"! We're trying to make getting and staying fit and healthy FUN!! :)

In this with you!

TRACI :)

Glancing Back - Looking Forward....

Life is busy and time is short, I will be the first to acknowledge that.

But as I look at some of our recent family photos from the summer, I am reminded of just how short time really is. The small snippet of time that is my childrens childhood is the same period of time where I grew from a young, inexperienced mom, to an older, seasoned mom of budding adults. For my older kids, I am in that final phase of helping them "become" who God made them to be, and letting them "fail forward" a little within the safety of family and parents, where we can tweak and adjust things that we taught that they may not have fully learned.

Being a parent is not a sissy job; it takes effort, PRAYER, thought, PRAYER, guidance from mentor parents, PRAYER, reading books, and developing each child as the individual, incredible creations they are. Did I mention prayer? ;o) I have good kids, but they are not cookie cutter kids. They all react differently, think differently, view situations differently, have different senses of humor, and their hearts are touched by very different things. One needs me to reprimand them firmly and LOUDLY, and one needs me to speak softly and calmly so as not to send "her" into an emotional meltdown. One needs the schedule for the next week of what we'll be having for dinner, and one forgets to actually eat because she's playing...until its bed time of course. One needs to know what we're doing 6 months from now, and one never seems to know whats happening in that very minute. Different. Every one of them. All created in God's image, all showing off different aspects of God's heart.

They do however, all have one thing in common. They're all being raised in the same house by the same parents; they're Morrows. All these kids, with all these different personality types need to be raised so as to learn to flourish in their uniqueness. I find that a fascinating role with great responsibility; as a woman, a mom, a follower of Jesus. I want my kids to enter adulthood with the wind at their back and sprinting towards their future. That takes EFFORT on my part and on their dad's part.

We do "check ins" with one another in the evenings when the little ones have gone to bed. We go for evening walks where we not only touch base as a team/couple, but we strategize, share what we see in the kids that we need to work on a little, share what (or whom!) we're struggling with, and then pray for our kids and for one another. When we walk back through that door, we are a united team going back into "the game" with our plan for that day, week, and sometimes just to get us through the next hour. LOL Hey - with teenagers, sometimes its an hour to hour basis. :)

I'm not saying we have it all down, and that we do it perfectly. NOT BY A LONG SHOT. There are some days when I dont feel I've done it well at all, but I never give up trying. There are days I feel like I had no patience, and kick myself that I didnt stop what I was doing to hear my quiet child tell me a funny part from Hannah Montana (the focused part of me has a HARD TIME stopping to listen to a recap of a tv show rerun - just keepin it real :) ), and days when I miss an appt. or phone conference, but God's mercies are new every morning. I ask forgiveness, receive it, and start my next day off with the intention of operating out of God's infinite grace and mercy. I love daily "second chances". :) Its what I always tell my kids: I dont have to be THE best, I just strive to be MY best.

I guess this isnt really a coaching post, but today I'm a bit introspective. My encouragement to you is that we're all human, doing our best to serve others from a place of abundance and not an empty tank. And sometimes it helps to hear that we're not the only one fighting the good fight! Not by a long shot!

I'm praying today for those who read this to be encouraged and find hope that you're not the only one who struggles with time, patience, and to keep up with the changes in our growing kids. We're in this together - and TOGETHER....we're BETTER!

Have a blessed rest of your week! From one busy parent to another!

TRACI +7

Sunglasses; they do more than make your kids LOOK COOL

I dont know about you, but when my kids were big enough to start asking for sunglasses, I bought them for them because I thought it was so cute to see a little kid looking so adorable and hip at the same time. :) But with four of my six kids being blue eyed, I had no idea that my decision was the best thing I could do for them!

I was on Dr. Greene's website http://www.drgreene.com/43.html reading up on sunglasses and their important role in the protection of the eye from a young age, when irreversable damage is done to the eye; specifically lighter pigmented eyes. Dr. Greene states that unlike other cells of the body, "the cells of the lens of the eye are never replaced once damaged; the proteins of the lens are never replenished. The lens cannot repair itself; and damage accumulates over a lifetime." And that its in our youth is when our eyes are damaged the most BEFORE we think to put sunglasses on our kids for a purpose other than looking cute or cool.

Here's what he has to say on the subject, :

Excessive exposure to sunlight during early childhood is harmful to the eyes. Sunlight contains harmful UV radiation. The risk for retinal damage from the sun's rays is greatest in children less than 10 years old, although the consequences usually do not become apparent until well after they are adults.

Teaching your children to wear sunglasses may be more important than giving them a college fund.

All children should be taught to wear sunglasses, especially between 10 AM and 2 PM, when ultraviolet exposure is the most dangerous. This is true even for children with darker eye colors, even though their darker pigments afford partial protection. Of course, children with light-colored eyes need sunglasses all the more. Ultraviolet exposure is at its peak when children are at high altitudes, snow-covered landscapes, bright sandy beaches, or near reflective bodies of water.

Most people wear sunglasses to reduce glare. This is trivial compared to the long-term protection they afford for the precious ability to see. Parents can set a good example for their children by wearing sunglasses at the appropriate times.

All sunglasses are not the same. Effective sunglasses should block both UVA and UVB radiation. Large lenses that fit close to the eyes are best. Those that block visible blue light are even safer. Thankfully, all sunglasses block UVB radiation. A great many sunglasses, however, do not afford UVA protection. Expensive brand names and polarizing lenses are no guarantee. The sunglasses must be measured to block 99% to 100% of UVA or UV400 (400 nm is the wavelength of UVA radiation).

Ordinary sunglasses make the situation WORSE! The dark lenses cause the pupils to dilate, allowing more of the dangerous UVA radiation to damage the lens and the retina.

This is a BIG WAKE UP CALL, fellow parents!! And the solution is quite simple. We all know that a toddler can demolish sunglasses in two seconds flat, so thats why its a blessing that childrens sunglasses are so inexpensive at places like Target or Wal Mart. You can get a pair for about $5 just about anywhere, and if you teach them to wear them from a young age, and model wearing them yourself, they are quick studies and as they will be a regular part of going outside, they'll leave them on after a few times. (I've got six kids, so I'm speaking from firsthand experience!) They may not like it at first, but they'll get the hang of it. :)

The long term dangers of life without sunglasses? Macular Degeneration and Cataracts are two common eye problems that have been linked directly to sun damage to the eye from childhood sun exposure. They damage the vision and without surgery to correct the problem, the vision is damaged. (see photo for an example of the vision of someone with macular degeneration)

So get some glasses on your kids (and of course, yourselves!!) :) You'll all look cool, and you can be proud for helping take care of the health of your kids' eyes!

Then email me some snapshots of you and your kids in sunglasses! :) I'd love to see them, and maybe put some on my blog. :) ABSoluteFitness@roadrunner.com

And send me any questions you have to the above email address for the chance of having your question answered on camera and a little something from me in the mail! Be sure you include your mailing address!

Blessings and Health!

TRACI +7

Tony Horton Hits the Numbers in VEGAS, BAYBEE!

I've been hosting Tony Horton's Camps for about four years now. :)

When I first met Tony, it was 2003. We hit it off as if we were born to be friends. :) He's one of my favoritest people that walks this earth, and when he asked me to host his camps I was so excited at the opportunity! To be a part of what he brings to people is incredible enough, but to do something so powerful with one of your best friends - now THAT'S an awesome gig! :) And so, the TNT Fit Camps were born (Tony N Traci).

What started as a great idea by message board regular at the time and original Power90 Success Story Tony Mestaz; the first camp was before my time, and it was launched in Santa Monica, CA. Mestaz' brilliant idea was to bring people from the message boards together to meet the man who'd changed their lives, and to spend some time with him at Santa Monica's Original Muscle Beach. I think the number was under 20 participants, but something far beyond his imagination was born.

This last weekend, July 19-20, we hit a high of nearly 90 campers in Las Vegas! People sign up to BRING IT LIVE! with Tony during 4 sweat inducing workouts, and four very informative and entertaining (would you expect anything less from Tony? :)) seminars, where he shares all that he knows packed into two days; which actually feels like four! This camp had what we've been wanting and needing for a long time: a Nutrition Seminar headed up by Tony's personal chef and Nutritionist Melissa Costello. She added what we knew instinctively we needed, but with the perfect timing, she crossed our paths and our newest player was added to the lineup! :) (Lucky us - we LOVE Missy, and not just for her cooking - she's a SWEET, Beautiful woman! :))

JuliAnne Forrest has also been added to the team, though campers wont fully understand or appreciate how critical her behind the scenes role is, as we do. Well, other than their camp experience being as smooth as butte......er.....coconut oil. :) As our behind the scenes organizer and administrative genius Jules makes sure that i's are dotted and t's are crossed! With the number of attendees growing at camp, and my family numbers having grown at home ;), we were in desperate need of someone to book us, organize the crew and money matters, so that we could concentrate on camp and on what people were coming for: Tony Time! :)

So here are a few snapshots of our weekend. It doesnt matter what level of fitness you're at, if you have a desire to come...COME! Tony is the master of encouragement and alternate moves, so whether you have 100+ pounds to lose, or have completed the X+ multiple times - this camp is for you! Please visit the official site for future listings of a THFC: http://www.thfitnesscamp.com/!

We cant wait to meet YOU at a camp!

Blessings!

TRACI :)

Team GENESIS Summit :)

We had such a great time at our Vegas Team Building Summit! :) We had coaches come from Hawaii all the way to New York to share, learn, CRACK UP, and just BE a team! A special thanks to Kevin and Milan Jensen, Doug and Tammie Fitzgerald, Dave and Anne Dovel, Kory Edwards, & Randy Watson for your presentations about team building with integrity and through relationship! I took lots of notes, and hope to share the crib notes with the people I am entrusted to coach!

In Summary:

Milan led us in a fun team buidling game, and then as she spoke, I learned that in conversations I/we should:

1. Set my intention for the conversation
2. Think: "How do I want my words to make this person feel?"
3. Think: "What do I want them to take away from this conversation?"

When we are intentional in our conversations with people (our spouse, kids, friends, coaches, customers) we will both leave those conversations blessed and having accomplished something, and not left wondering what the heck just happened?! (anyone been there?)


Then I learned from the Fitzgerald/Dovel team that its important to Develop a Plan as I build my team of coaches, and then Keep it Simple! :) It boils down to these three points:


1. Here's what we're doing.
2. Here's where we're going.
3. Come along!


I learned that inside every person is a "Dreamer", a "Doubter", and a "Realist".

1. Our Dreamer holds our deepest desires; that place where we dream big;
2. Our Doubter holds us back sometimes and tells us (sometimes in our own voice, sometimes in the voices of those who have actually spoken them to us) WHY we CANT do it, and
3. Our Realist is the part of us that helps us find the balance between what we WANT to do, and what NEEDS to be done, and helps us figure out a plan of strategy to MAKE IT HAPPEN.

They all work together to help us find balance, but I felt encouraged to really listen to my "Dreamer". :) For me personally, its that part of me that really connects with what I feel God has for me, in spite of what fear might tell me cant be done! Oh, that blasted FEAR!! What a loudmouthed liar it is!!!


Kory Edwards shared from the heart all about the impact we can have on people's lives for decades to come. He spoke of his own experience in another fitness based company that he and his wife were a part of; how years later, after people had gained back the weight they'd lost with them years before - that they felt comfortable to come back because they knew he and his wife were there to help! THATS COACHING! :) Total acceptance and love - thats what I'm talkin about!!


He also shared how his worst nightmare came true when his wife was diagnosed with cancer and passed away a short time later, and how that caused him to dig deep into what he really believed about life and the afterlife, as well as really putting his core message to trial by fire: that living a healthy, fit lifestyle is worth it for optimal living...TODAY. We really dont have any idea how much time we have on this earth - lets make the most of what we've been given and help others do the same! What a gentle giant. :) Love that guy! Doug Couch came up later and said "Thanks to Kory, I just fell in love with a man for the first time in my life." :) Couch...that guy makes me smile just thinking of his humor and delivery. :) But I think we all fell in love with Kory that day as he spoke from his heart in front of his team: a group of strangers at 9am, but by 5pm: FAMILY.

Lastly, Randy talked about talking to professionals about the Team Beachbody opportunity! He encouraged us to:



1. Be Prepared. Professionals will not waste time. (actually, no one wants their time wasted!)
2. Be organized.
3. Be brief
4. Be confident
5. Look professional
6. Listen - DONT SELL (EW!!!) - dont worry that they wont be interested!


What we have with Team Beachbody is something that every person needs whether they know it or not. Our goal is to share it with them - the opportunity to have optimal health, and to help others have that too - in such a way that we are genuine in extending hope to people! :)

If you missed this: our third Team Genesis Summit, you now have the summary. :) But there's nothing like "huddling up" with friends who are likeminded - even friends you've never met - to encourage one another to be the best possible versions of ourselves! :)

Sooo HAPPY to be in this with you -

TOGETHER....we're BETTER!! :)

TRACI +7

Tony Horton Fitness Camp in VEGAS

I'm heading to Vegas for the weekend! :)

Our team is having a team building day on Friday, and then Tony's camp kicks off on Saturday Morning. :)

I've been helping Tony with his camps for four years now, and we always have such a fun time. People come from all over, at all different fitness levels to work out, learn from him in his seminars, and connect with people they've met through the amazing Beachbody community of people. People just like you and me who want to be healthy and fit for life, and do so with friends! :)

I'll be posting lots of photos (similar to the silly one above of us sneaking some chocolate mousse pie at an LA Camp). I hope they will inspire you to consider saving your pennies for one of our camps! You'll never be sorry you did!

For more info on attending a Tony Horton Fitness Camp, please go to http://www.thfitnesscamp.com/

Check back for fun updates from both the coaching training (something we offer our team twice a year) and Tony's Camp!

TRACI :)

Testing your EQ: how strong is your running emotional intelligence?

The following article/personal test is an exerpt from Runners World Magazine, and though its designed specifically for runners, it goes for anyone who is working out on a regular schedule and experiences physical pain that wouldn't be considered within the "normal" range.

Take this test, plug it into your personal fitness, and see how you measure up. If your score is mostly a's and b's, you need to work on taking your emotion out of your decision and make your decisions based on long term fitness/health goals!

Since I was a young girl I have always loved survey's and T/F questionaire's. I hope you do too. Enjoy! :)

1. During your cooldown at the local track, an older guy flies past you. You:

a. Speed up, pushing yourself until you pass him.

b. Stick with your cooldown, but think, I hope no one saw that geezer lapping me.

c. Think, Wow, he's in great shape for his age, and return your focus to your workout.

2. Worried you won't sleep the night before your first marathon, you:

a. Take a sleeping pill that night.

b. Don't do anything. Being keyed up may help you perform better.

c. Visualize the hours leading up to the start, picturing yourself calm, relaxed, and in control.

3. A few weeks before a race, your doctor says you have plantar fasciitis and tells you to stop running for a month. You:

a. Continue running through the pain.

b. Hammer out workouts on the eliptical machine so you can keep in shape for race day.

c. Pick a different race goal and cross-train until you're ready to resume running and racing.

RESULTS:

If you answered mostly As, your EQ is low. You give in to your emotions and react to them, looking for a quick fix, rather than managing them for long-term health and happiness.

If you answered mostly Bs, your EQ is average. You're aware of your feelings but could improve on how you manage them.

If you answered mostly Cs, your EQ is high. You have emotioal awareness and you practice the right methods for managing your feelings.

Let's all aim for mental, physical, and emotional awareness, with our goals for long term optimal health and fitness! :)

Blessings!
TRACI :)